Give nowEvery year York awards scholarship to the brightest and most deserving students who don't have much, or any, family support.

With your help, more of our most impressive students will do more than just study.

Were there times when you were at university when you knew friends who clearly struggled with money?

Have you heard family, friends or colleagues talk about the difficulties of student life now and the constant battle to make ends meet?

Maybe you have helped out, as thousands of parents, relatives and friends do, with some extra cash from the Bank of Mum and Dad? Yet many York students have to go through university with little or no support from home.

For them, university is both exhilarating and a struggle.

Tierney says, "During my three-year English degree course, there were no grants available so it’s been very hard to make ends meet. My sister and I both started university at the same time which meant, unfortunately, as hard as they tried, our parents were unable to support us. We each got a part-time job but that still wasn’t enough, so we got two each. Even then after my rent is paid I only have £10 left from my maintenance loan: not enough for food or for bills."

You can help a student like me to make the most of their time at York by giving £70, £180 or even £1,050 to fund a scholarship for someone who is just about to enter their second year.

Successful applicants receive £35 a week for the 30 weeks that is a university year. Current scholarship students like Alex, Kate and Lucy use the money for taking on work experience or research during the holidays or volunteering somewhere, or simply just keeping the wolf from the door.

Every penny of your donation goes to the students. Last July, there were 278 applicants yet sufficient funds for only 94 scholarships. That means that, right now, two out of three students are turned down.

With your help, 100, 120 or even 150 of York’s most impressive students from low-income families will do more than just study. They will gain a wide range of experiences – vital to landing a graduate job.

“When reading through scholarship applications, I am always impressed with the talent and breadth of activities that students show. In making decisions to choose one student over another, I’m very aware that the margin of difference is small, and that we have to turn down those who do need, deserve and would benefit enormously from support”.

Tom Banham, University Careers Director

When you support a scholarship you give a wealth of opportunities to students who have little or no family support.

You can relieve the burden of money worries that drives some students to abandoning their hopes, dreams and ambitions, and to leave university. Why stay when you are paying £9,000 a year for a university education you don’t have the time to attend? It can be a vicious circle with no end in sight. But your donation will help break the circle.

Please send your donation today and be the difference a student from a low-income family needs to succeed after University.

You can help today

Give nowStudents will be applying for scholarships shortly, and we need to confirm how many awards we can offer by the end of June. Please send your donation today so that we can award more scholarships than ever before. To say thank you for your support, the Directors would like to invite to you to a Celebration of York Futures in London on 18 October this year. You’ll meet some of the scholarship students and fellow investors. You’ll also hear from people who are working with the students and enjoy a light supper – it’s a great opportunity to combine the event with business or pleasure in the capital.